There is a clear view from one side of the playground to the other, though you could briefly lose track of kids on top of the platforms. The tall gates at opposite ends of the playground have always been securely closed when we have visited. The ground under the play structure is padded; but, the remainder of the playground is blacktop and granite pavers, and we have witnessed a couple of scraped hands and knees from falls.

Within the playground, there is a restroom with a changing table.

Washington Market Park, Tribeca

Q: Snack Time/Coffee Break?

There are many benches, as well as two picnic tables and a few chess and backgammon tables to set down a snack. Head over to Vesuvio Bakery on Prince St. for cookies, pastries or a sandwich. Or the quickest option is Famous Ben’s Pizza, a quality slice joint just across the street. Also from the Playground, you could give into the hype and join the line for Dominque Ansel Bakery’s latest famous creations, such as the Cronut and Chocolate Chip Cookie Shot.

Gianna Abruzzo
6 days ago
4 min read

The adventure begins at the S.S. Fun Ship as your little one steps into Washington Market Park Playground, then winds through the space with the City’s iconic water towers waiting at the finish. This playground, made of wood and red metal, spans a long, narrow, shady side of the Tribeca park, and it is divided into three separate age-specific play structures, each with connecting platforms, vertical climbs, and slides.

The elevated play structure for toddlers is anchored by the bow and mast of the S.S. Fun Ship and is built on top of a sandpit. There is plenty of space for exploring the platforms on top and digging for treasures underneath and around them. Tandem slides are just high enough for toddlers to pick up some speed and race a friend down. There are easy, shallow steps for the littlest walkers to get up to the platforms and a small climbing wall and chain ladder for those ready for more of a challenge.

In the next area, for mid-sized kids, the connecting platforms step up progressively to the highest spot about six feet tall, from which a spiral slide descends. There are a few vertical climbing options to get up to the top and mid-height, wide, shallow slide to get down. The space under the platforms gets plenty of use for hideouts and hangouts.

Separating the middle and eldest kids’ play areas by quite a distance is a long, asphalt lot with a few water spray features, including a high vertical spray, a stream, and a metal water wheel.

Our favorite spot is by the iconic water towers on the platforms atop the highest climbing structure. There are views north across the entire playground, to the east over the high fence into Tribeca, and to the south looking up to the top of One World Trade Center. On this long, straight, stretch of high platforms, which are too high for this mom to reach, kids can sprint from end-to-end. To get up there, there are multiple staircases and vertical climbs. The twisty slide is the fastest way down. There are two slanted chain ladders that are a challenge to climb up and a popular spot for hanging out upside down. The monkey bars are so high off the ground that many kids can only reach them by making a daring maneuver from the chain ladder to reach them. Although this structure is very high off the ground, the stairs make it accessible to kids of all ages, so both preschoolers and older kids often share this section.

Visibility/Safety? It is easy to lose track of a child in this playground, and the overall design is not as cushioned as new playgrounds. The play structures are far apart from each other, so it is impossible to keep an eye on kids in different sections. The playground is not securely gated from the larger park it’s in, so a child is unimpeded from moving from one play area to the next or out into the larger park. The entire park is surrounded by a tall fence and there are only two entrances; however, the main gate is always open and is not visible from inside the playground. Happily, there are no plastic climbing structures here; on the flip side, there is plenty of concrete, stone, and asphalt.

Bathroom Emergency? Within the park, there are well-maintained restrooms with a changing table.

Snack Time/Coffee Break? There are benches and lots of concrete ledges to sit on around the perimeter of the playground. Between the playground and a grassy lawn, there are several picnic tables. There are plenty of places to pick up lunch or a snack on the same block as the park, including Toby's Estate Coffee and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream next door as well as PopUp Bagels across the street. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a Farmers’ Market at the park’s entrance.

Features: Slides, monkey bars, water sprays, sandbox, special climbing structures, shade, benches, picnic tables, bathrooms, nearby coffee & snacks.

What’s More? Within the Park, there is a community garden, a butterfly garden, a large grassy lawn, and a gazebo that is a cute spot to host birthday parties. In a separate section, there are tennis and basketball courts. Tribeca community members fought to establish the community-run park more than 40 years ago when there was no nearby greenspace and the area was slated to become a Department of Transportation parking lot. Although it has been under NYC Parks Department since 1999, the community continues to play a significant role in its programming and upkeep. The nonprofit Friends of Washington Market Park raises funds to provide free public events and supports park restoration and improvements. More information can be found here.

The bottom line: Washington Market Park is a neighborhood gem that earns its loyal following. If you're in Tribeca with kids, this is the stop worth making.

Gianna Abruzzo is EatPlayExplore's playground correspondent and the person who knows Manhattan's parks better than anyone. Brooklyn-born and mother of three, she has raised her girls on these playgrounds and spent years championing the parks that make this city liveable. She created a collection of embroidered iron-on patches to celebrate them. Shop her patches here and follow her on Instagram.